Bross Bennett's Compatibility Quiz: Essential Questions Every Couple Should Ask
LONDON, January 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- When marriages break down, each party must complete a Form E Financial Statement. This 25 page "full and frank disclosure" could be called the Exit Interview. In order for partners to better understand the commitments of getting married or setting up a home, Bross Bennett, one of the largest and most experienced niche family law practices in London, is calling for couples to take their Compatibility Quiz.
Ruth Bross, Partner of Bross Bennett, says: "No employer would offer someone a job without considering their suitability for that position and neither should a couple embark on a lifelong commitment without doing their research. Successful relationships are built on honesty. Deceit on any scale is a betrayal of that basic principle; there is little point in building a future with someone if they are not prepared to be truthful. No-one who is truly committed to a relationship would ever mind making the full and frank disclosure that is asked of them. If they do, you might like to ask yourself why."
Finances
- Do you know the extent of each other's assets? How does each of you view the sharing of these assets? - Do you have the same attitude to saving? Will one of you prioritise pension contributions while the other wants to save for a new car? - Will you pool your resources into a joint account or do you want to keep finances separate? Will you contribute in proportion to your incomes, or equally? - On debts, are you going to have to pay off your partner's debts, perhaps from what you thought was going to be the deposit on your house?
Family Ties
- What sort of relationship do you have with your extended family? Are they good at staying in touch? Are they local? Affectionate? Over-involved? Have you had any major fallings out?
Children
- Do you want children? How many? - How do you want to raise your children? What sort of values do you want to pass on? - Do you have opposing views about the benefits of state versus private education - and should you be thinking now about buying in a catchment area for a good state school?
Work
- Are your respective career paths compatible - is either of you going to have to make compromises? Are you prepared to? - Will you want to give up work when you have children? What does your partner think about this? Can you manage financially? What about part-time working?
Roles - traditional or modern?
- Will you expect to live along traditional lines - woman as homemaker and man as bread-winner? Who will organize the finances? Will household responsibilities be shared equally? Who will assume responsibility for paying bills?
Bross Bennett is one of the largest and most experienced niche family law practices in London. For more information visit http://www.brossbennett.co.uk
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